“There’s only one answer to that. It’s no difference to slaying a snake with its eyes wide open” - Papali’itele Niko Lee Hang
Individual voters across the nation will be restricted to two specific urban areas and traditional customs eliminated from elections under law changes proposed yesterday.
The proposed changes to the Electoral Act 1963 divided members of the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P). Tabled before Parliament for the first time, M.P.’s from both sides were not pleased with the Electoral Amendment Bill 2014.
The bill was pushed through its second reading yesterday. Amendments include changing the nationwide individual roll to voters in two specific urban constituencies, as well as wider changes covering traditional donations, and the elimination of the need for candidates to get endorsement from the village mayor. Individual voter and associate Min ister for Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Papali’itele Niko Lee Hang, was among those strongly rejecting the proposed changes.
“I am saddened that the Act is being passed in a rush, giving little time to study, discuss and read through it especially since it has a huge impact on my constituency,” he told Parliament.
“The Prime Minister has told us the changes from the Commission of Inquiry are good but my question is no one from the Commission understands the individual seats.”
Opposition leader, Palusalue Fa’apo II cut in.
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He asked Papali’itele, “How do you interpret it when you’re sitting on the H.R.P.P. side yet your seat will be dissolved?”
Papali’itele was quick to take the stand again. “There’s only one answer to that,” he said. “It’s no difference to slaying a snake with its eyes wide open (fasia ole gata ae pulapula mata).
“The truth is, I don’t support the (proposed) law.” Another individual voter M.P., also Associate Minister for Health, Maualaivao Pat Ah Him, felt the same way. Maualaivao told Parliament the bill had shocked him.
“I came with a different feeling this morning, a happy feeling without knowing this was going to happen,” he said. “But I’m shocked by this…I didn’t expect it. Just like what he (Papali’itele) said, it’s so hard to watch a snake getting slain, with its eyes wide open.”
Further, Maualaivao said such changes would cause disagreements from people living in Faleata and Vaimauga constituencies.
Associate Minister for the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, and MP for Falealili, Tusa Misi Tupuola, supported the M.P.s. Tusa said he does not agree with the division of the constituencies.
For example, he referred to the villages of Piu and Matavai not being in the list for his constituency.
“These are the founding villages of our constituency,” he said.
“The family names of Alo Fanene are in 10 villages and Aiga Fenuinuivao in four villages so there is no righteousness in this division (of constituency) where our foundations are affected by it.”
But Tusa suggested that the only right way to do it is to divide Falealili into two halves.
“I don’t want anything for me but my concern is for the next generation, the future of our country.
“The ballot is something from the palagi but it is affecting our village foundations.”
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi brushed off the concerns from Tusa. Tuilaepa told Parliament the member was contradicting himself with what he agrees on and not.
“He wants to keep the foundation of villages yet he wants to divide it (Falealili) into equal halves.”
Minister for Revenue, Tuiloma Lameko disagreed with Tusa. Tuiloma said the changes are appropriate.
He also pointed out that the list where Piu is under Sapunaoa is correct. M.P. for Faleata East, Aveau Niko Palamo had a different concern.
He pointed out that rather than using lawyers to confirm the candidacy of people, pastors should do it.
“Why not use pastors who would do it for free?” suggested Aveau.
“Seeing a lawyer would require money but we have our spiritual leaders who can do it.”
MP for Satupaitea, Lautafi Selafi Purcell voiced his concern on o’o or official presentations to villages. While many view it as corruption, Lautafi said the custom is a tradition in our culture.
“I would do an o’o whether I win or lose,” he said. “It’s the perception from people and the timing that people take it the wrong way (faauiga sese).”
Tuilaepa intervened. He said there are many words spreading on the internet and Facebook viewing Samoan M.P.’s corrupt because of this custom.
“O’o is our culture,” he said. “We hear words that our country is corrupt because of it but it’s done in other countries but it’s not viewed as corrupt.
“It’s giving the world a bad image of Samoa…but now we have a law that prevents this to avoid our country from being disgraced.”
The debate on the bill continues today.
| Amendments in Electoral Amendment Bill 2014 |
| The main recommendations considered by Cabinet in the bill are; (a) Replacement of the individual voters roll with two (2) urban constituencies; (b) Dealing with the problems of electors (without kinship connections) residing within the Faleata and Vaimauga territorial constituencies who have swelled the rolls of those constituencies; (c) Territorial constituencies to cover any person (whether or not a matai title holder) residing within the Vaimauga or Faleata territorial constituencies; (d) Urban rol l t o include those in the current individual voters roll but this will be restricted to those living on lands (other than customary lands) in the Vaimauga or Faleata territorial constituencies; (e) The o’o and momoli to be undertaken after the declaration of polls; (f) The removal of the power of pulenuu to confirm candidacy of persons wanting to stand for elections as Members of Parliament. |
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